A list of questions to ask yourself to decide on the right television for you:
1. Will this be my primary TV?
No matter what you're using the TV for, there's a difference between the necessary features a TV must have depending on whether it will be your center of your entertainment system or simply something for the kitchen or the bedroom at night. If the TV is not something you plan on using as your primary set-up, I would discourage you to over-spend here. 1080p is probably not necessary for casual TV or DVD watching, nor is a high tier name brand such as Panasonic or Sony. For your primary TV, I would suggest you be picky -- for an auxiliary television, you can afford to be a bit thrifty.
2. What am I using the TV for?
Loaded question, I know. Let's breakdown the television possible uses into a number of broad categories, and you think about how many fit your expectations for how you'll be using the TV.
a. Standard definition cable viewing
b. High-definition cable viewing
c. High-definition cable viewing, including a good amount of sports
d. Standard DVD viewing
e. Blu-ray viewing
f. Video gaming
WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR
Note: Here I will assume you are shopping for a primary TV or at least one you'll use consistently. Scroll down further for more on casual / auxiliary TVs.
a. Standard definition cable viewing
-if you're main use of the TV is to watch standard definition cable then, frankly, you probably shouldn't bother with an HDTV. High-definition televisions are made for high-definition feeds, and not only will it cost you more than a boxy CRT television, the picture may very well look worse. So unless you plan on using the TV for something besides SD cable, such as to watch Blu-rays or to play video games -- I would say either go HD or go home, in this case.
b. High-definition cable viewing
-now we're talking. If you are going to pay for HD and watch a lot of television, a quality TV is worth buying. If you don't plan on watching a lot of sports, don't sweat the response rate (e.g. 60Hz v. 120 Hz) -- here the key decisions will be model, size, and 720p vs. 1080p. More on those features farther down.
c. High-definition cable viewing, including a good amount of sports
-see above (b.), except here is where the response rate comes into play. The response rate will affect the blurriness of the image when there is high motion. This is of course relevant to most sports where things happen quickly. If you're an avid sports fan and could see yourself being bothered by momentary blurriness on the screen, consider going for 120Hz or higher (240Hz and even 600Hz on some sets). That being said, Hz should still not dictate your choice here; once you get 120Hz, the difference between that and faster response rates becomes less severe.
d. Standard-definition DVD viewing
-if you don't have a Blu-ray player but still plan on watching a fair amount of DVDs, again, model and size are the most pertinent specs, though a high dynamic contrast ratio will make the picture's colors a bit sharper. 720p vs. 1080p is irrelevant here, as the DVD will be up-converted to a faux-HD feed called 1080i. Along with a good TV, a decent upconverting DVD player with an HDMI output would give you the best possible picture.
e. Blu-ray viewing
-Blu-rays aren't cheap and I assume that if you're going to bother paying the extra buck for Blu-rays, you're pretty serious about the picture. Quality of model is crucial here, and if this is the heart of your entertainment center, I would go for 1080p rather than 720p (assuming the size is over 32" -- see the Size section for more on that). Blu-rays are built to play at 1080p, and though they will still look damn good at 720p, you might as well get 100% of the picture that you're paying for. Contrast ratio is also important here -- response rate not quite as much, unless you're a hardcore action junkie, or your favorite film is Speed Racer.
f. Video gaming
-I've found that hardcore gamers are some of the pickiest buyers in terms of picture and sound quality, so I'll go with that generalization here. If you want the most realistic, cinematic experience possible, go for the bells and whistles here. 1080p, at least a 120Hz (fast motion is obviously inherent with most games), a high contrast ratio, and most importantly a reputable brand and model. If you want to break the stereotype and consider yourself a less scrupulous gamer, see the HD cable w/ Sports heading for appropriate specs.
SIZE MATTERS (sort of)
Perhaps the #1 question I'm asked is what size television is right for me? Below is a handy little picture that should make things a bit more clear:
Before you buy your TV, you should have a general idea of where it will be placed in relation to your seating. I personally sit very close to my TV by habit and can therefore make due with a 32" set, but my main set is in my bedroom, not a living room. Measure out how far back you'll be sitting and use this chart to decide how big you want it to be. It's likely that you won't ever be upset that your TV is too big, but some people go out of their way to buy a 54" TV despite sitting just a few feet back. Size is a major factor on cost so choose wisely.
720p vs. 1080p: WHEN DOES IT MATTER?
By general rule, 1080p is almost certainly unnecessary if the TV isn't at least 37" or bigger. On a screen any smaller than that, the difference in picture quality is minimal. 1080p becomes a more noticeable improvement over 720p as the size increases, and therefore if you are going 50+ inches and plan on using the TV quite a bit, 1080p is probably the way to go.
